Turkmenistan International Relations

Turkmenistan: EU Should Press Foreign Minister on Rights
Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister, Rashid Meredov, is scheduled to meet in Brussels with EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and other high-level EU officials to discuss energy issues and Turkmenistan’s potential accession to the World Trade Organization on April 9. “EU officials should not miss this rare, high-level opportunity to privately and publicly press for human rights improvements in Turkmenistan,” said Rachel Denber, Deputy Director for Europe and Central Asia at Human Rights Watch. “The EU officials need to make clear that Turkmenistan’s natural resources can’t buy impunity and that its appalling human rights record is hindering deeper relations with the EU.”
Source: Human Rights Watch

Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton following her meeting with Turkmen
Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission issued the following statement April 9:
"I met today with Turkmenistan's Foreign Minister/Deputy Prime Minister Meredov.
I reiterated the EU's support for furthering economic and political reform in Turkmenistan and expressed our encouragement for reforms announced following the Presidential election last year. Such reforms will benefit the well-being as well as the long-term prospects of Turkmen citizens. I also underlined the importance of EU-Turkmen cooperation towards strengthening rule of law and promoting judicial reform. Human rights are of course central to the EU's dialogues with all its partner countries and our concerns in this regard were also discussed.
Secondly, I expressed the EU's appreciation for Turkmenistan's constructive regional role on issues including security, energy and water. I reaffirmed the EU's intention to remain engaged in the stabilisation process in neighbouring Afghanistan and reiterated our appreciation of Turkmenistan's efforts towards reconstruction and lasting peace in Afghanistan.
We also discussed EU-Turkmenistan energy cooperation as another important element of our relations."
Source: consilium.europa.eu

Israel to send ambassador to Turkmenistan
After a four year delay, Turkmenistan approved the stationing of an Israeli ambassador in its capital city of Ashgabat, according to the Israel’s Maariv newspaper. The position will be given this summer to Shemi Tzur, currently Israel's ambassador to New Zealand. Tzur is known in Ashgabat, as before his assignment in New Zealand, he represented Israel’s interests in Turkmenistan as a non-resident Ambassador. The Israeli Embassy in Turkmenistan will become the second diplomatic post headed by an ambassador of Israel in a country bordering on Iran after Azerbaijan. Turkey kicked out Israel’s diplomat in 2010, after which the third secretary of the Embassy headed the diplomatic mission. Israel has no embassies in Armenia, Iraq, Afghanistan, or Pakistan.
Source: israelnationalnews.com, gundogar.org

Experts from Caspian states gather in Ashgabat
Ashgabat hosted a meeting for representatives of Caspian states to discuss a draft agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of the biological resources of the Caspian Sea, organized by the Turkmen Foreign Ministry and the State Enterprise for the Caspian Sea under the President of Turkmenistan. The meeting was attended by the senior staff of relevant ministries and departments of fisheries, natural resources, environmental protection, and other state agencies of Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan. The participants supported the idea of developing a set of measures aimed at conserving the resources and environment of the Caspian Sea. This is the third meeting of experts developing a draft agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources of the Caspian Sea. The previous two meetings were held in Ashgabat in 2012.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru

Turkmenistan Studies European Legal Experience
Turkmenistan’s Foreign Ministry held a meeting to study European legal experience with the support of a Finnish delegation headed by the former President of the Finnish Supreme Administrative Court, Pekka Halberg, and representatives of Turkmenistan’s Parliament, Supreme Court, Ministry of Justice, and National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru

Turkmenistan, UN Hold Annual Review of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF)
The UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Turkmenistan, Ms. Jacinta Barrins, chaired a meeting to review the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) for Turkmenistan for 2010-2015, attended by Members of Turkmenistan’s Parliament, representatives of ministries and departments, public associations, and staff of UN agencies accredited in Ashgabat. Meeting participants discussed the results achieved in 2012 within the UNDAF and defined prospects of cooperation for the current year. Representatives of the ministries and departments made presentations on the progress achieved in implementing UNDAF, including bringing national legislation and mechanisms of its implementation in line with the basic principles of international human rights instruments.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru

President of Turkmenistan Receives Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine
Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov received Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Viktor Maiko, who arrived in Ashgabat to discuss issues related to international cooperation. Praising the contribution of Ukrainian partners in implementing important projects in the fuel and energy sector, transport, urban development, and other strategic areas of the economy, Berdymukhamedov expressed confidence that Ukrainian companies will continue to take an active part in the implementation of large-scale government programs.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru

Ambassador of Finland Holds Talks at Foreign Ministry of Turkmenistan
Ambassador of Finland to Turkmenistan, Tuula Yurel, held talks at Turkmenistan’s Foreign Ministry and said that Finnish companies are seeking opportunities to expand their presence in the Turkmen market. Participants of the meeting noted that Turkmenistan and Finland are set to expand trade and economic and investment cooperation and to explore prospects of joint high-tech projects in various areas of the economy.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru

Ambassador of Australia accredited in Turkmenistan
The Australian Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Paul Andrew Mailer, presented his credentials to the Speaker of Turkmenistan’s Parliament, Akja Nurberdieva. Both noted the potential of Turkmen-Australian cooperation in trade and economy, the energy sector and humanitarian activities, and agreed to establish close inter-parliamentary relations. Mailer also held talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations, and the Ministry of Oil and Gas and Mineral Resources of Turkmenistan, discussing the possibility of developing long-term partnerships.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru

Ambassador of Jordan accredited in Turkmenistan
The Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to Turkmenistan, Amjad Adaileh Odeh, presented his credentials to the Speaker of Turkmenistan’s Parliament, Akja Nurberdieva, and stated that Jordan is interested in developing bilateral relations with Turkmenistan. During the meeting, Odeh and Nurberdieva named the energy sector, health and pharmaceuticals as promising areas of cooperation. The Ambassador of Jordan also held talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economy and Development of Turkmenistan.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru

Current environmental issues discussed at Foreign Ministry of Turkmenistan
Martin Krause, Environment and Energy Practice Leader of the Bratislava Regional Center for Europe and CIS (Slovakia) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), held talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan to discuss Turkmenistan’s work in environmental protection and promotion of global energy security. During his visit to Ashgabat, Krause held talks with the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Nature Protection, and the Ministry of Economy and Development.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru

Avaza Hosts Seminar on Development of Cooperation between Red Cross and Red Crescent
A two-day seminar on the development of cooperation of the National Red Crescent Society of Turkmenistan and the International Red Cross Movement took place at the conference hall in the Watanchi Hotel at the Avaza National Tourist Zone. The forum brought together journalists from national and regional media and representatives of the local agencies of the National Red Crescent Society of Turkmenistan. During the seminar, coordinators of the National Red Crescent Society of Turkmenistan spoke about the significance of measures taken to ensure the improvement of legislation that is focused on the implementation of generally-recognized international legal norms, including basic principles of humanitarian law.
Source: Turkmenistan.gov.tm